KINABUKASAN SOCIETY

Towards Unity and Service

Unconditional Acceptance

I am a mother of three and recently completed my
college degree.  The last class I had to take was
Sociology. The teacher was absolutely inspiring with
qualities I wish every human being had been graced with.

Her last project of the term was called "Smile."
The class was asked to go out and smile at three
people and document their reactions. I am a very
friendly person and always smile at everyone, so, I
thought this would be a piece of cake.

Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband,
youngest son, and I went to McDonald's one morning. We
were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all
of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and
then even my husband did. I did not move an inch...an
overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me
as I turned to see why they had moved.  As I turned
around I smelled a horrible "dirty body" smell, and
there standing behind me were two homeless men. As
I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he
was "smiling".  His beautiful sky blue eyes were full
of God's Light as he searched for acceptance. He said,
"Good day" as he counted the few coins he had been
clutching. The second man fumbled with his hands as he
stood behind his friend.  I realized the second man
was mentally deficient and the blue eyed gentle man was his salvation.

I held my tears as I stood there with them. The young
lady at the counter asked him what they wanted. He
said, "Coffee is all Miss" because that was all they
could afford. (If they wanted to sit in the restaurant
and warm up, they had to buy something. He just wanted
to be warm). Then I really felt it - the compulsion
was so great I almost reached out and embraced the
little man with the blue eyes.  That is when I noticed all
eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my
every action. I smiled and asked the young lady behind
the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a
separate tray. I then walked around the corner to the
table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put
the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue
eyed gentleman's cold hand.  He looked up at me, with
tears in his eyes, and said,  "Thank you."    I leaned over,
began to pat his hand and said, "I did not do this
for you. God is here working through me to give you
hope." I started to cry as I walked away to join my
husband and son. When I sat down my husband smiled at
me and said, "That is why God gave you to me, Honey.
To give me hope."  We held hands for a moment and at
that time we knew that only because of the Grace that
we had been given were we able to give.

We are not church goers but we are believers.  That
day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet love.

I returned to college, on the last evening of class,
with this story in hand.  I turned in "my project" and
the instructor read it. Then she looked up at me and
said, "Can I share this?" I slowly nodded as she got
the attention of the class. She began to read and
that is when I knew that we, as human beings and being
part of God, share this need to heal people and be healed.

In my own way I had touched the people at McDonald's,
my husband, son, instructor, and every soul that
shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a
college student. I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I
would ever learn:  UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE. Much
love and compassion is sent to each and every person
who may read this and learn how to LOVE PEOPLE AND USE
THINGS - NOT LOVE THINGS AND USE PEOPLE. 

If you think
this story has touched you in any way, please stop and say a prayer


Contributed by: Romeo Cruz

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